Karachi: More than 160 countries observed Labour Day-May 1 as holiday. In United States and Canada, it is holiday on first Monday of September. Some countries, including UK and Ireland, have first Monday after May 1 as holiday. In Pakistan it is national holiday. Economic activities on government level come to halt for a day.

Faisal Hameed Chief Hum Karachi said absolute workforce in country is daily wager other than industrial and commercial labour and earns bread and butter for their families by working on daily basis as 90 percent of labours are engaged with construction sector. Due to holiday in country most of projects in building and construction sector observe this day, thus deprived daily wager of a day earning. Though seminars are held by unionists in parts of country but there is no any significance of labour rallies in country as union activities are shrunk.  It could have been better, holiday was to be observed on first Sunday after May 1 in order to provide a day earning to labourers to make ends to meet. Holidays other than festivities-day and Sundays on greater extend are hard to swallow by daily wagers so government functionaries should think over it and try to ease their economic issues in better way.

May 1 is day to highlight labours’ struggle for welfare of their community and their contribution in economy as industrial, construction and agriculture workers. It is better to hold seminars on government as well as on private entrepreneurs’ level to make feel labour class they are owned by their employers. Such endeavours will certainly boost self-respect of labour class and they will feel proud and become more sincere to deliver in their respective fields.

Published in The Daily National Courier, May, 01 2023

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